Armed police are searching residential streets in the Hawke’s Bay community after an earlier stand-off at a house.

Cordons put in place about 11am on Buckingham St and Ngaruroro Ave in Whakatu had since been lifted, but officers were still in the area.

Police said the cordons were in place while police conduct inquiries to “locate a person of interest”.

The police interest was initially focused around a home in Buckingham St.

A resident of Buckingham St told Hawke’s Bay Today police were armed and a police officer could be heard speaking over a loud speaker saying “we have you surrounded, please exit to the back of the address. You are safe. We are not leaving”.

About noon, police began to search an address on the street, with a police dog.

By 12.30pm most of the police had shifted focus to Essex St further down, before dispersing again.

Armed police had been at the scene since mid-morning. Photo / Michaela Gower

There’s heavy rain in the small settlement north of Hastings, with outside temperatures at a chilly 8C.

A staff member at nearby David Trubridge design studios said they noticed about 10 officers and seven patrol cars in the area from 10am grouped at the Station Rd intersection.

“A bunch of police cars and the K9 unit and cops were all armed surrounding a house on Station Rd,” the staff member said.

Police said members of the public were advised to avoid the area, but there was not considered to be a risk to the public.

The scene at Whakatu, Hawke's Bay. Photo / NZME 

A police cordon in Whakatu, Hawke's Bay as police attempt to locate a person of interest. Photo / Michaela Gower